Gators' Rebounding Edge Fuels NCAA Tournament Run

0:00On March 21, Florida Gators' men's basketball team earned a number one seed in the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row, marking the fourth. Time in program history. Coach Todd Golden has doubled the team's top seed appearances compared to the two under Billy Donovan in 2007 and 2014. The Gators rely on a strong front court trio of All South Eastern Conference players, Thomas Howe, Alex Condon, and Ruben Cheneyloo. In 33 games this season, one of them led or tied for the team lead in scoring 24 times and in rebounding 30 times. Florida tops the nation in rebounding margin at plus 14.5, grabbed 16.1 offensive boards per game and averages 45, 0.4 total rebounds. They ranked second in offensive rebound percentage at 43.1%. Game scoring at 43.6 points per game, and third, and second chance points at 16.5. During a 12 game winning streak from late January to mid-March, the Gators shot 51.1 percent

1:05from the field to opponents, 38.3 and 35.7 from 3 to their 29.6. That fueled a plus 20.6 scoring edge at 90.6 to 70 with 19 assists per game to 10.5 for foes. This is Florida's third time opening tournament play in Tampa after strong showings as a number two seed in 2003 and 2011. With their rebounding edge in hot streak, the Gators enter ready for a deep March run.